The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven individuals and three companies in connection with a sprawling GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme allegedly perpetrated within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The accused include former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with other current and former staff of the Authority and directors of private companies believed to have facilitated the laundering of illicit proceeds.
According to a statement from the OSP, the charges follow extensive investigations launched in late 2024 into the diversion of public funds and collusion between NPA officials and certain oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
Accused Individuals and Companies:
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former CEO, NPA
Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator, Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), and MD of Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy
Wendy Newman – Staff, NPA
Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited
Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Limited
Propnest Limited
Kel Logistics Limited
Kings Energy Limited
The Alleged Scheme
Between 2022 and December 2024, the OSP alleges that Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman, acting under the colour of their official duties, orchestrated a criminal extortion racket that unlawfully siphoned GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
The scheme was reportedly initiated by Abdul-Hamid and executed by Amuah and Newman without any lawful mandate, exploiting their authority at the NPA to solicit and collect payments.
Amuah is alleged to have handed GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024. An additional GHC227.2 million was reportedly channelled through Newman for further disbursement under Amuah’s direction.
The remaining accused individuals are alleged to have collaborated with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited to launder the proceeds through Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.
The funds were allegedly used to acquire real estate, trucks for oil distribution, and to build fuel stations—part of efforts to conceal the origin of the illicit proceeds.
Charges Filed
All ten accused—seven individuals and three corporate entities—face a combined 25 counts, including:
Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, contrary to Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044
One Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics Limited, is currently at large and being sought by law enforcement.
Next Steps
All apprehended individuals are expected to appear before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on a date yet to be determined, where their pleas will be taken.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption and called on public institutions to remain vigilant and report any suspected wrongdoing.
